. . . Let Cigarette Tax Lower Costs

The obvious links between smoking and expensive medical care make cigarette taxes a good choice to help pay for President Clinton's national health-care package.

Financing health reform and medical care from taxes on tobacco products is one of the few proper uses of cigarette taxes.

In contrast, past proposals to increase cigarette taxes for construction of prisons and schools have not made sense. Tobacco products have nothing to do with criminal justice or education.

Using taxes on cigarettes to pay for better health care is logical but should be sensibly applied.

For instance, the strong anti-smoking sentiment and growing expense have discouraged the practice. A recent poll showed that Florida was one of 20 states in which cigarette-tax revenue had declined.

So other sources of revenue would be needed to make up for any shortfalls that would occur as more people stop smoking. A reduction of smoking, though, should likewise reduce the nation's health bill.

As of now, the primary sources of money for health care being considered by the Clinton administration are employers and employees.

In addition, the government should resist getting greedy with cigarette taxes. Talk of adding as much as $1 of tax to a pack of cigarettes is extreme, especially considering that each pack now carries a 24-cent federal tax and 34-cent state tax.

Also, the federal government should consider redirecting existing cigarette tax revenue away from the overall budget and instead into health-care reforms.

Certainly, cigarette taxes should not pay for the entire health-care tab. But if properly administered, a health tax on one of the unhealthiest of products is appropriate.